Cyprus is the third island in the Mediterranean, comprising an area of 9,251sq km. The island is characterised by considerable diversity of scenery, ranging from flat plains, a few metres above sea level, to lofty mountainous areas reaching a height of 1951 metres. A large number of geomorphological features, like raised beaches, tombolos, sea cliffs and sea caves, cuestas, ravines and gorges, river captures, coastal sand dunes, beautiful tiny isles and, above all, fine and coarse-grained sandy beaches are encountered. A great variety of rocks, belonging to different geological eras and ranging from sedimentary to metamorphic and igneous, with their hardness, colour and texture affect the relief, lending a distinct colour to the landscape of Cyprus.
The natural vegetation, influenced by the island’s position among three continents, is rich and varied with a number of endemic plants. Equally significant is the fauna of the island, with its unique moufflons roaming in herds in the forests of Pafos and Troodos. Moreover, millions of migratory birds use Cyprus as a stopover in their movement from the cold north-European countries to the warm countries of the African continent, and vice versa, during autumn, winter and spring.
What, however, makes Cyprus a very attractive and fascinating country for the foreign visitor, is its long and tempestuous history, dating back to the Neolithic times. Recent excavations at Shillourokambos, north of Amathous in Limassol district, place the neolithic era in Cyprus at 8200 B.C. Besides, all conquerors and settlers have left their imprints on the surface of the island. Every span of land in Cyprus has something to reveal to the visitor, local or foreign. It has often been written, that nowhere else in the world will the visitor find a similar size of land with such a large variety of physical and man-made environment. It is this tremendous variety of landscape that satisfies all needs and tastes. The visitors can visit archaeological sites and museums, popular neighborhoods and folk-art museums, basilicas and Byzantine frescoed churches, traditional houses and wine-presses. They can walk over cobbled streets and medieval bridges, or they can admire the large wine jars of the last two centuries, currently placed in the house yards for decorative purposes. They can take part in local festivals and dance contests, or they can watch or participate in the citrus, olive and grape gathering. Yet, if they like isolation, trekking, or countryside exploration, there are unspoilt areas, nature trails, large expanses of forest land and small, declining villages preserving their genuine customs and habits, particularly their hospitality. It is not surprising that the fruitful Greek imagination, wise and infallible in all its creative conceptions, chose out of all islands, Cyprus, as the birthplace of the Goddess of Love and Beauty, a symbolical realization of the island’s natural beauties and its poetic, romantic environment.
This guide, published by SELAS, aims at presenting to the visitors of Cyprus the physical and cultural heritage of the island.
Extract from the Touring Guide of Cyprus published by SELAS PUBLICATIONS
